Examining the Potential for Employing Biowaste Prosopis juliflora Bark as an Additive in Particulate-Reinforced Polymer Based Composite Materials

The usage of particulate reinforcements has increased due to their property enhancement behavior in polymer composites. There is a need to explore particulates that can act as fillers for polymer-based composite materials. Commonly used synthetic or inorganic filler materials create environmental issues, and to overcome such issues, organic waste materials were explored. The Prosopis Juliflora plants were creating ecological problems, so the idea is to utilize their barks as particulate reinforcements. For that, the Prosopis Juliflora bark powders (PJBP) were characterized through FTIR, XRD, and TGA analysis. Further to the analysis of its compatibility, PJBP underwent physiochemical properties analysis, surface morphological analysis, and antibacterial analysis. The functional group presence confirms the cellulose content and hemicellulose content through FTIR, XRD, and physiochemical analysis. The surface analysis of particulates shows a rough surface of the PJBP, which aids the polymers in adhering to its surface. The PJBP shows a thermal withstanding capacity of 347 °C and provides resistance against the pathogens. The antibacterial behavior of PJBP can extend its applications to the biomedical field. The results recommend using PJBP as a particulate reinforcement in polymer-based composites.